Connector



Dec. 17, 1957 R. J. PRI-:s1- 2,815,341'

' CONNECTOR Filed 061;. 25, 1954 4 j jv 3,21/ il da? 1?/ (7,2/ f2 per, gul@ if 2^? 9Jl [lge/afar Raerz" :Z'e manhawim CONNECTOR Robert J. Prest, Concord, Mass., assigner to Technical Operations, Inc., Arlington, Mass., a: corporation of Delaware Application October 25, 1954, Serial No. 464,551

4 Claims. (Cl. 24-221) The present invention relates to mechanical connectors for detachably fastening two parts to each other..

Some of the principal objects of the invention are to provide a connector which can be handled and operated without actually touching it, merely by manipulating the members to be attached to each other; to provide such a `connector which deiinitely indicates the accomplished connection with an easily recognizable and characteristic response; and to provide a connector which permits attachment and detachment by relative movement of the parts to be connected, of non-critical extent, requiring little force, and of distinct character for attachment and detachment, respectively, which makes the operation independent of contact with the connector proper and of direct visual observation. Another important object is to provide a connector for attachment of a container with radioactive material to means for carrying and handling such material from a distance, such as for connecting capsules to flexible cables, or for interconnecting such cables.

The following summary indicates the nature and substance of the invention in some of its principal aspects for attaining the above objects.

A connector according to the invention comprises a receptacle member and a plug member; the receptacle member has an axial recess of circular cross-section, a transverse slot which reaches into the recess, and furthermore fastened thereto a spring member with a transverse portionv that yieldingly moves in the slot; the plug member has a stud portion that substantially fits the abovementioned recess and that has at the outer free end of thev stud portion an inclined face or cam portion and therebehind a notch transverse to the stud portion, which notch can be aligned with the slot of the receptacle member; Insertion of the stud portion of the plug member into the recess of the receptacle member, with the transverse portion of the spring aligned with the notch of. the plug member, first causes the cam means to lift the spring and then to engage thek spring in the notch;I relative rotation of the engaged members lifts the spring from4 the notch andl permits separation of the' receptacle and plug members. 1 In a. preferred embodiment, the cross-sections. of the receptacle. recess and of the plug stud are cylindrical, and the spring is U-shaped with the intermediate portion fitting thel slot4 of the receptacle and the notch of the studandi withV the ends parallel to the axis of the receptacle; the cam means can be a-n oblique face cuttingl oli partof the plug and intersecting the transverse cut-off end face of the plug.

In another important embodiment, either member,` usually the plug member, is fastened to a capsule for receiving radioactive material, by meansI` of a threaded United States Patent' portion opposite and coaxial with the` recess of the; receptacle member or the stud. of the plug member, which thread ts an inside thread of theL capsule and thus const-itutes a closure for the latter; the other member, usually the receptacle member, is connected to a carrying and manipulating element suchy as a cable. Instead of fastening the capsule to one of the members and a manipulating member to the other, both members can. be fastened to manipulating means such asy rods or flexible cables.

These and other objects` and aspects of novelty of the invention, in addition to those contained in the above summary, will appear from the herein presented description of a typical embodiment thereof and of several examples of itsy mode of operation and practical possibilities illustrating its novel characteristics. These refer to a drawing in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the receptacle and plug members, separated from each other and with a capsule attached to the latter and a eXible wire cable attached to the former;

Fig. 2 is an axial cross-section, with the stud in elevation, through the two members as shown in Fig. l, but in engaged position;

Fig. 3I is a cross-section on line 3--3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a cross-section corresponding to Fig. 3 but with the` plug member rotated such as to lift the spring of the receptacle member and to permit separation of the two members;

Fig. 5 illustrates the use of the device according to the invention for attaching a capsule to a carrier as well as. for the purpose of connecting two manipulating and carrying members; and

Fig. 6 shows the plug member according to Figs. l. and 2, but with a. manipulating cable attached thereto instead of the capsule.

In Figs. l to 4, the plug member is indicated at 11 and the receptacle member at 12. A capsule 14 is shown as attached to the plug member 11, and a flexible cable 15 is shown as attached to the receptacle member 12, for carrying and manipulating the capsule 14 with the plug 11 after attachment to the receptacle 12.

I-n the embodiment shown in Figs. l and 2, the plug member 11 has a tlange or collar 21 from which extend on one side athreaded stud 22, and on the other side a cylindrical plug stud 23. The plug stud 23 has an oblique face 25 constituting a cam means and therebehind a notch 26 transverse to the plug axis andy parallel to the plane of the face 25. The transverse cut-off face of the stud portion is indicated at 27.

The receptacley member 12 has an axial, cylindrical recess 31 which tits the stud 23 of the plug member, and on the other side. a recess 32.1 for attaching a manipulating` means such as the cable. 15. The intermediate portion 33 of the receptacle member has machined thereinto a generally speaking rectangular recess or box 35.1 for the spring to be described below, which recess continues into a counter sunk bore 35.2.

The spring 41 is generally speaking U-shaped with a transverse or intermediate portion 42 which is parallel to slots 26' and 36. Its substantially parallel end portions 43.1 Vand 43.2 reach into the chamber 35.1 and rest normally on two longitudinal ledges 44.1 and 44.2' which are machined on either side of the central portion 45, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3. The spring is fastened to the middle portion' 33 of the receptacle member 12 by means of an insert 48y which, after staking, is turned to the body diameter, as indicated in Fig. 2.

tet 6,341

In the embodiment shown in Figs. l and 2, the cable is fastened to the receptacle member 12 by inserting its end into the above-mentioned recess 32 and by crimping or swaging, as indicated at 49.

For connecting the two members, the stud 23 is inserted into the recess portion 31 and pushed slightly thereinto. if the cam face 25 happens to be aligned with the transverse portion of the spring 41, the latter will be lifted into the slot 36 of `the receptacle, until it clicks down into the notch 26 of the stud of the plug member, thus securely connecting the two members. lf recess and plug are not aligned, a slight rotation, while maintaining the slight inward push will accomplish this alignment and the above-described engagement of the .spring t1 and the plug notch 26.

For disengaging the two members, it is merely neces- :sary to rotate the plug member about 90", which, as indicated in Fig. 4, lifts the spring from the stud notch 26 into the recess slot 36 and thereupon permits easy separa- `tion of the two members by way of a slight pull on one or the other or both. rhus, for attaching the two members to each other it is merely necessary to insert the stud into the receptacle recess with slight pressure and rotation until a click is felt or heard which indicates secure connection by means of the transverse spring portion retained in the transverse notch of the stud portion of the plug member; for detaching the two members it is merely necessary to rotate them relatively a slight amount, whereupon the plug lifts the spring from its slot and permits the stud portion to slide out of the recess of the receptacle member. The resistance against rotation, exerted by the pressure of spring head 42 against notch 26, is sufficient to maintain secure attachment during normal operation, whereas detachment is initiated by a definite torque. The connector will securely transmit axial thrust in either direction which is sufhcient for normal operation where the manipulation involves mainly such axial forces, whereas relative torques are not exerted during such normal operation and are only used for connecting and disconnecting as above described.

it will. be evident that the connection and disconnection of the two members involves very little skill or force; the insertion of the stud merely requires its initial placing into the recess, whereas the subsequent movements are positively determined, which is also true of the detaching operation. This feature makes the device according to the invention especially suitable when remote handling is' required, such as in the case of radioactive material being contained within the capsule 14.

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate the use of the device according to the invention for attaching a capsule 14, as well as for connecting a supporting or manipulating element such as a wire rope 15.1 to another such element 15.2. Fig. 5 clearly indicates the respective components with reference to the Figs. l to 3, so that this embodiment needs no further detailed explanation. Fig. 6 indicates the modification of the plug member for purpose of Fig. S, a crimping or swaging portion 32.2 being attached to the plug 23 instead of the screw stud 22 shown in Fig. 2.

lt will be evident that the connector according to the invention is applicable to the joining of devices other than those described above by way of a specific embodiment, but that it is especially suitable for the joining of elongate members of the general nature of those herein described by Way of example.

lt should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

l claim:

l. A connector comprising a receptacle member having an axial recess of circular cross-section and a transverse slot reaching into said recess, and fastened thereto a spring member having a transverse portion yieldingly movable in said slet about transverse pivot axis which is located in a plane that is substantially parallel to the axis of the receptacle member and also contains the transverse portion in locking position; and a plug member having a stud portion substantially fitting said recess of the receptacle member and having at its free end cam means and behind said cam means a transverse notch substantially fitting said transverse portion of said spring member, whereby insertion of the plug member into the receptacle member, with said transverse portion of the spring aligned with the notch of the stud portion, causes the cam means first to lift the spring into the slot of the receptacle member, and then to engage the spring in the notch of the stud portion essentially without bending stress of the spring member, whereas relative rotation of the two members lifts the spring from the notch and permits separation of the members.

2. A connector comprising an elongate receptacle member having at one end an axial recess of circular crosssection and a transverse slot reaching into said recess, and fastened thereto a spring member having a transverse portion yieldingly movable in said slot; an elongate plug member having at one end a stud portion substantially fitting said recess of the receptacle member, cam means at the free end of the stud portion, and behind said cam means, a transverse notch substantially fitting said transverse portion of said spring member; and at the other end of each of said members, means substantially coaxial with said recess and said stud portion, respectively, torque transmitting means for fastening the respective member each to a device to be connected; whereby insertion of the plug member into the receptacle member, with the aid of said devices to be connected, with said transverse portion of the spring aligned with the notch of the stud portion, causes the cam means first to lift the spring into the slot of the receptacle member, and. then to engage the spring in the notch of the stud portion, whereas relative rotation of the two members with the aid of the torque transmitting fastening means lifts the spring from the notch and permits separation of the `devices by pulling thereon.

3. A connector comprising a receptacle member having at one end a substantially' cylindrical bore, and a transverse slot cutting into said here, and on said receptacle member a U-shaped spring member whose ends point away from said slot and are attached to the receptacle member, and whose intermediate transverse portion is yieldingly movable in said slot about a transverse pivot axis which is located in a plane that is substantially parallel to the axis of the receptacle member and also contains the transverse portion in locking position; and a plug member having a substantially cylindrical stud portion fitting said recess and having at its free end an oblique face and behind said face a transverse notch substantially fitting said transverse portion of said spring member whose bottom is substantially parallel to said oblique face and which can be aligned with said slot upon insertlon of the stud into the recess; whereby insertion of the plug member into the receptacle member, with said transverse portion of the spring aligned with the notch of the stud portion, causes the oblique face rst to lift the spring into the slot of the receptacle member, and then to engage the spring in the notch of the stud portion essentially without bending stress of the spring member, whereas relative rotation of the two members lifts the spring from the notch and permits separation of the members.

4. A connector comprising a receptacle member having at one end a substantially cylindrical bore, and a transverse slot cutting into said bore, on said receptacle member a U-shaped spring member whose ends point away from said slot and are attached to the receptacle member, and whose intermediate transverse portion is yield ingly movable in said slot, and at the other end of the receptacle member torque transmitting means for fastenmg a device to be connected; a plug member having at one end a substantially cylindrical stud portion fitting said recess of the receptacle member, having at the free end of the stud portion an oblique face and behind said face a transverse notch substantially tting said transverse portion of said spring member, and having at the other end of the stud portion torque transmitting means for fastening a device to be connected; whereby insertion of the plug member into the receptacle member, with said transverse portion of the spring aligned with the transverse notch of the stud portion, causes the oblique face rst to lift the spring into the slot of the receptacle member, and then to engage the spring in the notch of the stud portion to connect the two devices, whereas relative rotation of the two devices lifts the spring from the notch `and permits separation of the devices by pulling thereon.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,307,733 Gullborg June 24, 1919 1,347,515 Lutz July 27, 1920 2,401,817 Dina June 11, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS y842,683 France June 16, 1939 

